Best Mac 2026: Mac & MacBook Buyers Guide
Choosing the best Mac in 2026 means finding the right combination of performance, features and price for the way you work. Whether you’re buying your first Mac, replacing an older computer or looking for more power, this guide will help you understand your options and choose with confidence.
Do you need a laptop to carry around or a desktop for a permanent workspace? Which processor will handle your apps, how much memory and storage should you buy, and which connections do you need? We explain what these differences mean in practice, helping you identify the features worth paying for.
We also help you work out the total cost. Memory and storage upgrades can significantly increase the price, while some models require a separate display and accessories. Our configuration advice and retailer price comparisons will help you balance your needs against your budget and decide where to spend – or save.
Below, you’ll find our recommendations followed by detailed explanations of every current Mac family, including their strengths, limitations and upgrade options. Together, these will help you narrow your shortlist and choose the right Mac for your work, home or studies. For a closer look at Apple’s laptops, see our MacBook comparison.
The MacBook Air is our top Mac for most people in 2026, offering an excellent balance of performance, portability, battery life, and value. For tighter budgets, the MacBook Neo starts at $699/£699 and is Apple’s most affordable laptop.
For demanding creative and professional work, choose the MacBook Pro. The touchscreen MacBook Pro adds the flexibility to interact directly with the display alongside the keyboard and trackpad.
If you don’t need portability, the Mac mini, starting at $899/£899, offers good value if you already own a display and accessories. The iMac combines the computer and display in an all-in-one design that’s ideal for the home, while the Mac Studio provides greater power for intensive creative work and AI development.
13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026) – Best Mac for most people
The 13-inch MacBook Air is Apple’s thin and light laptop for everyday use, offering more performance and features than the cheaper MacBook Neo.
Apple introduced the M5 MacBook Air in March 2026, featuring the M5 chip with its faster CPU and GPU. The base configuration now starts with 512GB of storage (double the previous model), along with faster SSD speeds, more memory bandwidth, and support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
It’s perfect for students and everyday users who want a lightweight laptop that’s easy to carry, and powerful enough for working, studying, browsing, and doing light creative work. If you want a larger screen there is a 15-inch MacBook Air, which we discuss below.
The entry-level 13-inch M5 MacBook Air costs from $1,299/£1,299, that’s up $200/£200 from the launch price of $1,099/£1,099. You can create build-to-order models with more memory (up to 32GB) or storage (up to 4TB).
The standard specs for the M5 MacBook Air offer an improvement compared to the previous generation. The MacBook Air now ships with 512GB SSD as standard.
Apple M5, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,299/£1,299.
Apple M5, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,399/£1,399.
Additional options: Up to 32GB memory, 4TB storage.
While referred to as 13-inch, when measured diagonally the screen is 13.6-inches. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M5 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,560×1,664 and 500 nits brightness. The MacBook Air M5 can support two external displays.
The M5 MacBook Air models supports Thunderbolt 4, which means that they can support a dual monitor set up. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB-A adapter, like Apple’s $19 / £19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. In the U.K. and Europe Apple has stopped including a Power Adapter in the box, so you will need to buy one separately. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters.
The 2026 MacBook Air offers Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) for connecting to a network. It also provides built-in Bluetooth (6) for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.
In our tests the M5 saw consistent gains over the M4 in the previous generation, as you can see in our Mac processor benchmarks. In some benchmarks the M5 even beats the M1 Ultra. If you are upgrading from an old Mac – especially if it is one with an Intel chip – you will see a huge difference.
The MacBook Air is more than fast enough for everyday use and occasional creative work. Its fanless design keeps it silent, but performance can drop during sustained demanding tasks as it reduces speed to control heat. If you regularly run lengthy video exports, large code builds or other intensive workloads, a MacBook Pro with active cooling is a better choice. Memory and internal storage cannot be upgraded after purchase, so choose a configuration that meets your likely longer-term needs. Prioritize enough memory for your apps; you can add storage later with an external SSD. The Air still uses M5, while Apple now offers M6 versions of the standard MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini. An M6 MacBook Air could follow in spring 2027. If you need a new laptop now, the M5 Air remains a capable option, particularly at a discount.
The MacBook Air is a great choice for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person.
Apple MacBook Neo – Cheapest Mac laptop
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s new entry-level Mac laptop. It’s powered by an iPhone-class chip (the A18 Pro) rather than an M-series processor, and it introduces a colorful design and a simplified feature set at a much lower starting price, although not as low as it was, thanks to Apple’s June 2026 price hikes which pushed prices up $100.
The MacBook Neo is designed to appeal to students and those who want to use a laptop for everyday tasks like web browsing, video calls, schoolwork, streaming, email and office apps. Because it uses an A18 Pro iPhone chip and is limited to 8GB of non-upgradable RAM, it is not suitable for heavy video editing or large-scale photo processing.
At launch the MacBook Neo was the cheapest Mac laptop Apple has ever released, starting at $599/£599. That price is now slightly more, at $699/£699, but it’s still about half the price of a MacBook Air.
The MacBook Neo is the first Mac to use an A-series processor, the same family used in iPhones. That chip has a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, 8GB unified memory, and either 256GB or 512GB storage.
Apple A18 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 8GB memory, 256GB SSD, two USB-C ports: $699/£699.
Apple A18 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 8GB memory, 512GB SSD, two USB-C ports: $799/£799.
Additional options: None.
The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 2,408×1,506 resolution at 220 ppi, at up to 500 nits and sRGB color. That should be good enough for everyday work.
Connectivity is basic. There are two USB-C ports; one is USB 3, the other is slower USB 2. There isn’t a separate MagSafe port so charging is via USB-C. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 are included.
MacBook Neo uses the A18 Pro chip that first appeared in the iPhone 16 Pro. Our tests and benchmarks of that chip indicate that it offers similar performance to the M1. It is suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and office apps.
The MacBook Neo’s low price comes with several trade-offs: there’s no Thunderbolt, MagSafe charging or backlit keyboard, and Touch ID is available only on the 512GB model. Unified memory is limited to 8GB and cannot be upgraded, so consider whether that will meet your longer-term needs before buying. The Neo uses the A18 Pro chip. A refresh with a newer, more powerful processor could arrive in 2027.
This is the most affordable way to own a Mac laptop – unless you buy a used or refurbished model. If you don’t need pro-level performance it’s a very compelling entry-point into Apple’s ecosystem.
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026) – Big screen without Pro pricing
The 15-inch MacBook Air is essentially identical to the 13-inch model above aside from the bigger screen and six-speaker system rather than four speakers. Surprisingly, battery life isn’t better on the 15-inch, despite the bigger battery.
Like the 13-inch version it features the M5 chip for faster CPU and GPU performance compared to the previous generation. The base configuration now starts with 512GB of storage (double the previous model), along with faster SSD speeds, more memory bandwidth, and support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big-screen laptop for far less than the price of a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. The big screen will allow more room for spreadsheets and browser tabs, and for multitasking with multiple apps open. It’s also great choice for anyone who values portability due to its lightweight and thin design.
The price of the 15-inch model was $1,299/£1,299, but following the June 2026 price increases it now starts at $1,499/£1,499. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with up to 32GB memory and 4TB storage.
The specifications of the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air are generally the same as the 13-inch model, except there is no 8-core GPU option here. The actual screen measurements, measured diagonally are 15.3in. You are essentially paying $200/£200 more for the bigger screen.
Apple M5, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,499/£1,499.
Additional options: Up to 32GB memory, 4TB storage.
While referred to as 15-inch, when measured diagonally the screen is 15.3-inches. The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,880×1,864 and 500 nits brightness. The MacBook Air M5 can support two external displays.
Both M5 MacBook Air models support Thunderbolt 4 and can support a dual monitor set up. For USB-A devices you need a USB-C to USB adapter (Apple sells one for $19 / £19), or a USB-C hub with USB-A ports. In the U.K. and Europe Apple has stopped including a Power Adapter in the box, so you will need to buy one separately. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters.
The 2026 MacBook Air offers the new standards of Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth (6). If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.
This is the same M5 as found in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, so you can expect similar performance. In our tests we found the M5 to be faster than the M1 Ultra in some benchmarks. If you are updating from an older Mac expect a big boost.
The Air doesn’t have a fan to keep the computer cool, so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code. If that’s the kind of work you intend to do, a MacBook Pro would be a better option. Also note that you won’t be able to update RAM or storage later, so get as much as you can afford. The Air still uses the M5 chip, while Apple now offers M6 versions of the standard MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini. An M6 MacBook Air could follow in spring 2027.
Starting at $1,499/£1,499, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a much more affordable Mac laptop than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999/£1,999, so if you want your screen to be bigger than 13 inches, and you don’t need the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of work you do, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option.
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6, 2026) – Everyday power with Pro features
The 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro is the entry-level model in Apple’s professional laptop range. It combines a standard M6 chip with active cooling, a Liquid Retina XDR display and more ports than the MacBook Air. More powerful M5 Pro and M5 Max models remain available, including separate OLED touchscreen versions. The M6 model retains a conventional, non-touchscreen display.
Announced on October 27, 2026, the M6 model replaces M5 with a 2nm processor featuring a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, up from 10 cores each. It also gains a dual 16-core Neural Engine, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The enclosure, display, memory capacities and storage options remain largely unchanged.
The M6 MacBook Pro suits users who want a better display, additional connections and more sustained processing power than the MacBook Air offers. Its cooling fan makes it better suited to lengthy video exports, code builds and other demanding tasks. For heavier graphics workloads or projects requiring more than 32GB of memory, consider M5 Pro or M5 Max instead.
The M6 model starts at $1,999/£1,999 with 16GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD. That matches the outgoing M5 model’s most recent starting price, rather than its lower original launch price.
Apple M6 with a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine. 16GB unified memory and a 1TB SSD as standard. Optional 24GB or 32GB memory and 2TB or 4TB storage. Memory bandwidth of 153GB/s with 16GB, rising to 170GB/s with 24GB or 32GB. Apple rates battery life at up to 24 hours of video streaming or 16 hours of wireless web browsing.
14.2-inch mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 3024 × 1964. Up to 1,000 nits sustained full-screen HDR brightness and 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness. Up to 1,000 nits SDR brightness outdoors. ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, P3 wide color and True Tone. Optional nano-texture glass. A notch housing a 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support.
There are three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging and a headphone jack. You may need an adapter for older accessories. The M6 supports two external displays alongside its built-in screen. Wireless connectivity improves to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In the U.S., a 70W USB-C adapter is included. Buyers in the U.K. and Europe need to supply a compatible adapter separately. Fast charging requires a 96W or higher USB Power Delivery source.
Apple claims up to 30 percent faster graphics and 25 percent faster on-device AI workloads than M5. The newer M6 name also doesn’t mean it is superior to the M5 Pro or M5 Max, which offer more CPU and GPU cores, greater memory bandwidth and higher memory capacities.
Memory and internal storage cannot be upgraded after purchase. Choose enough memory for your likely longer-term needs; external SSDs can provide additional storage later. If you want OLED or touchscreen input, you’ll need a PROLED XDR model.
It offers a useful middle ground between the MacBook Air and the more expensive Pro and Max models. You get a brighter HDR display with ProMotion, additional ports, active cooling and Apple’s latest standard M-series processor.
14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/M5 Max, non-touchscreen, 2026) – Portable power for professionals
The 14-inch MacBook Pro can also be configured with an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, which are much more powerful than the standard chip in the M6 MacBook Pro. The Pro and Max MacBook Pro can support up to 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB memory and 8TB storage, for a seriously fast Mac laptop. There’s a larger 16-inch MacBook Pro with similar specs that we discuss below. These models retain mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR displays. Apple also offers separate PROLED XDR versions with OLED touchscreens, discussed below.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max was introduced in March 2026 and introduces Apple’s new Fusion Architecture chip that combines two 3nm CPU and GPU dies into a single unified system on a chip, which lets Apple scale performance and efficiency. In addition, the GPU includes a Neural Accelerator in every core, which Apple claims delivers up to 4x the AI performance of the previous generation. There is also faster memory and faster SSD speeds. In October 2026 touchscreen versions of these MacBooks joined the range.
If your work demands serious processing power, these machines are built to handle it. If you regularly work in professional software, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is a strong choice, and with either the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip they’re the most powerful laptops Apple has ever made. The 14-inch model costs less than the 16-inch version, making it the more budget-friendly option, and if you use an external monitor the screen size matters less. The M5 Pro MacBook Pro is designed for demanding professional tasks like software development, managing large photo libraries, or editing 4K video, while the M5 Max is aimed at even heavier workflows such as 3D animation, complex simulations, AI development, and high-end video production.
The price now starts at $2,499/£2,499 (up from $2,199/£2,199) for the M5 Pro. The M5 Max version starts at $4,099/£4,099, up from $3,599/£3,599 prior to June 2026.
Apple M5 Pro, 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $2,499/£2,499. Apple M5 Pro, 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $2,699/£2,699. Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 2TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $4,099/£4,099. Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory, 2TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $4,699/£4,699.
Apple refers to it as a 14-inch screen, but the screen measures 14.2-inches. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a resolution of 3024 × 1964 at 254 pixels per inch. It offers 1,000 nits sustained full-screen HDR brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness and up to 1,000 nits SDR brightness outdoors. It also supports a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and Max offers Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 6 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt 5/USB C ports, an SDXC slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices, and an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector. In the U.K. and Europe Apple has stopped including a Power Adapter in the box, so you will need to buy one separately.
Apple built the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with pro users in mind and it shows in the performance. With the M5 Pro and M5 Max you can enjoy the fastest Mac laptops Apple has ever made.
The MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro chips cost significantly more than other Macs, and the Max version costs even more, so you should consider whether the extra performance will actually benefit your workflow.
These models offer the same processor and memory options as the touchscreen versions at lower starting prices. They are particularly worth considering if you work mainly with an external display or prefer keyboard and trackpad input.
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro PROLED XDR (M5 Pro, 2026) – Best MacBook for OLED and touch
Officially called the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, this is Apple’s first touchscreen Mac laptop. It offers the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chip options as the non-touchscreen models above, paired with a tandem OLED display and a smaller, lighter enclosure. The keyboard and trackpad remain, with touch providing another way to interact with your Mac.
Announced on October 28, 2026, the touchscreen model introduces Dynamic Island, higher peak display brightness, Adobe RGB support and a redesigned hinge. The 14-inch versions weigh 1.38kg with M5 Pro or 1.40kg with M5 Max – 220g lighter than their non-touch equivalents. Other changes include camera stabilization, redesigned speakers and a 16TB storage option for M5 Max.
Consider this version if you want Pro-level processing power and regularly work on the laptop’s own screen. Photographers, designers and video editors may value the OLED display and expanded color support, while touch offers direct scrolling, zooming and manipulation of content. If you mainly use an external monitor, the less expensive non-touchscreen model may offer better value.
The 14-inch touchscreen MacBook Pro starts at $2,899/£2,899 with M5 Pro, or $4,499/£4,499 with M5 Max. Those starting prices are $400/£400 above the equivalent non-touchscreen versions.
M5 Pro: Starts with a 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory and 1TB SSD. Available with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, up to 64GB memory and up to 4TB storage. M5 Max: Starts with an 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory and 2TB SSD. The 40-core GPU configuration supports up to 128GB memory. Both Max versions offer storage up to 16TB.
14.2-inch tandem OLED PROLED XDR touchscreen, with a resolution of 3024 × 1986. Up to 1,000 nits sustained full-screen brightness, with 2,000 nits peak HDR and peak outdoor SDR brightness. ProMotion adaptive refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz. P3 and Adobe RGB color support, plus True Tone. Dynamic Island replaces the notch.
Connections are familiar: three Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. M5 Pro supports up to three external displays; M5 Max supports up to four.
The touchscreen models use the same processors, core configurations and memory bandwidth as their non-touch equivalents. The $400 premium buys display and design improvements rather than a newer chip generation.
Touch complements the keyboard and trackpad, but its usefulness will depend on your apps and working habits. Memory and internal storage cannot be upgraded later, so choose your configuration around your expected workload.
It combines professional processing options with OLED, direct touchscreen input and a more portable design. It is worth considering if those improvements will benefit your everyday work.
16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/M5 Max, non-touchscreen, 2026) – Maximum performance, largest display
The 16-inch MacBook Pro offers a similar set of specs and configuration options as the 14-inch MacBook Pro (above), but it has a higher price, a bigger screen, and better battery life – 24 vs 22 hours from the 14-inch model.
Like the 14-inch MacBook Pro discussed above, the 16-inch MacBook Pro features Apple’s M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, which use Apple’s Fusion Architecture to combine two 3-nm CPU and GPU dies into a single unified system on a chip. This design allows Apple to scale both performance and efficiency. The GPU also includes a Neural Accelerator in every core, which Apple says means it can deliver up to four times the AI performance of the previous generation. There is also faster memory and improved SSD speeds compared to the previous generation.
This is Apple’s largest ‘pro’ laptop and it’s designed for people who need a portable Mac to do work that demands extreme processing power. You could save some money with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but if you need a big screen on your laptop this is the Mac for you. You’ll also benefit from longer battery life.
There are three standard configurations starting at $2,999/£2,999 (up from $2,699/£2,699). The ultimate option is a $4,999/£4,999 for a M5 Max.
Apple M5 Pro, 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $2,999/£2,999. Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 2TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $4,399/£4,399. Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory, 2TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, $4,999/£4,999.
When measured diagonally, the screen is 16.2-inches. The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,456×2,234, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness, and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. You’ll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and Max offers Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 6 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are compatible with USB-C. These laptops also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot.
Performance depends on the configuration and the apps you use. The 18-core M5 Pro and M5 Max have the same CPU core configuration, so choosing Max does not automatically mean faster performance in CPU-focused tasks such as compiling code.
Apple has increased prices for this generation of MacBook Pro, compared to the predecessors, which makes what are already high-priced Mac laptops even more expensive.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro offers the largest display and longest battery life in Apple’s laptop lineup. Its large Liquid Retina XDR display is ideal for multitasking, providing more workspace for editing timelines, coding, and using design tools.
Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro PROLED XDR (M5 Pro, 2026) – Best big-screen MacBook for OLED and touch
This is the largest version of Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro, combining a 16.3-inch tandem OLED display with M5 Pro or M5 Max processors. It offers similar processing options to the 14-inch touchscreen model, but provides more screen space and longer advertised battery life.
Announced on October 28, 2026, the PROLED XDR model adds OLED, touchscreen input and Dynamic Island to a redesigned enclosure. It weighs 1.82kg with M5 Pro or 1.84kg with M5 Max – approximately 310–320g lighter than the equivalent non-touchscreen versions.
Choose this model if you regularly work on your laptop’s own display and want plenty of room for editing timelines, arranging windows or using creative tools. Its screen and Adobe RGB support may particularly appeal to photographers, designers and video editors.
Prices start at $3,399/£3,399 with M5 Pro and $4,799/£4,799 with M5 Max. Both starting prices are $400/£400 higher than the equivalent non-touchscreen models.
M5 Pro: 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory and a 1TB SSD. Configurable with 48GB or 64GB memory and up to 4TB storage. M5 Max: 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory and a 2TB SSD. Higher-end M5 Max: 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory and a 2TB SSD.
16.3-inch tandem OLED PROLED XDR touchscreen, with a resolution of 3472 × 2266 at 254ppi. Up to 1,000 nits sustained full-screen brightness, with 2,000 nits peak HDR and peak outdoor SDR brightness. ProMotion adaptive refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz. P3 and Adobe RGB color support, plus True Tone.
There are three Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack. Wireless connections include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. M5 Pro supports up to three external displays, while M5 Max supports up to four.
The touchscreen version retains the same M5 Pro and M5 Max processors and memory options as the non-touchscreen range. Paying for PROLED XDR does not buy a newer chip generation.
Although substantially lighter than its non-touchscreen counterpart, this remains a large, expensive laptop. Consider whether you will use its built-in display enough to justify the premium.
It offers Apple’s largest laptop display with OLED, direct touch input and Pro/Max processing options, while reducing the weight of the previous design.
Mac mini (M6, 2026) – Best-value desktop
The M6 Mac mini is Apple’s smallest and most affordable desktop Mac. It has the same compact 5×5-inch design introduced with the M4 Mac mini in 2024, but the M6 replaces the M4 chip inside. Unlike an iMac, the Mac mini doesn’t include a display, keyboard or mouse, so it is particularly attractive if you already own those things.
Apple updated the Mac mini with the M6 chip in August 2026, on-sale from September 22. The design hasn’t changed, but there are some significant improvements inside. The M6 has a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, up from 10 CPU and GPU cores in the M4, along with Neural Accelerators in every GPU core and Apple’s first Dual 16-core Neural Engine.
The M6 Mac mini is a good choice for anyone who wants a powerful desktop Mac but doesn’t need the additional performance of the M5 Pro Mac mini or Mac Studio. It has more than enough power for everyday work, web browsing and office apps, but is also capable of photo and video editing, coding and gaming.
The M6 Mac mini starts at $899/£899 with 16GB unified memory and a 256GB SSD. That’s $100/£100 more than the M4 Mac mini cost immediately before it was replaced.
Apple M6, 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, 2.5Gb Ethernet, $899/£899.
There are two USB-C ports on the front of the Mac mini, supporting USB 3 at up to 10Gb/s, alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back are three Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports capable of speeds up to 40Gb/s, an HDMI port and a 2.5Gb Ethernet port. Wireless connectivity has also been upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
In Macwelt’s tests of an M6 Mac mini with 24GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, Geekbench 7 single-core performance rose from 3,277 on the M4 mini to 4,055, while multicore rose from 15,693 to 22,695.
As with other current Macs, the unified memory and internal SSD can’t be upgraded after purchase, so think carefully about how much memory and storage you’ll need before you order.
Though not as affordable as it once was, the Mac mini is an appealing way to get a powerful Mac if you already own a display, keyboard and mouse.
Mac mini (M5 Pro, 2026) – Best compact professional desktop
The M5 Pro Mac mini is the more powerful of the two Mac mini models introduced in August 2026. It uses the same compact five-by-five-inch design as the M6 Mac mini, but substitutes the more powerful M5 Pro chip and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.
The higher-end Mac mini moved from M4 Pro to M5 Pro in August 2026, on-sale from September 22. It now offers up to an 18-core CPU, 64GB unified memory and 307GB/s memory bandwidth, plus Neural Accelerators in every GPU core.
The M5 Pro Mac mini is for developers, video editors, 3D artists, musicians, researchers and other creative or technical professionals who need more processing and graphics power than the standard Mac mini offers.
The M5 Pro Mac mini starts at $1,699/£1,699 with 24GB unified memory and a 512GB SSD. That’s $100/£100 more than the M4 Pro model cost following Apple’s June 2026 price increase.
Apple M5 Pro, 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, 2.5Gb Ethernet, $1,699/£1,699.
The M5 Pro Mac mini has two USB-C/USB 3 ports and a headphone jack on the front. On the back are three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI and Ethernet. Thunderbolt 5 offers transfer speeds up to 120Gbps.
The M5 Pro Mac mini offers up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, with 307GB/s of memory bandwidth. In our review, Geekbench 7 single-core and multicore scores were 12 percent and 38 percent higher than those of the tested M4 Pro mini.
Unified memory cannot be upgraded later, and the M5 Pro’s storage chips are now soldered to the logic board, unlike the removable SSD module in the M4 Pro.
It’s not as affordable as it once was, but the M5 Pro Mac mini packs impressive professional-level performance into an exceptionally small desktop.
Mac Studio (M5 Max, 2026) – Best professional workstation
The Mac Studio with M5 Max is Apple’s high-performance compact desktop for professional users. It sits between the Mac mini with M5 Pro and the more expensive M5 Ultra version of the Mac Studio.
Apple updated the Mac Studio in August 2026, replacing the M4 Max chip with the M5 Max. The design hasn’t changed, but there are significant upgrades inside. The M5 Max has an 18-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU, with Neural Accelerators built into every GPU core.
The Mac Studio with M5 Max is aimed at creative and technical professionals who need more performance than a Mac mini can provide, but don’t need the extreme power – or price – of the M5 Ultra.
The M5 Max Mac Studio starts at $2,499/£2,499. That gets you the M5 Max with an 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory and 512GB SSD.
Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, $2,499/£2,499. Additional options: M5 Max SoC with an 18-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU; up to 128GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD storage.
The M5 Max Mac Studio has four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back, two USB-C ports on the front, an SDXC Card slot, two USB-A ports, 10Gb ethernet, HDMI, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.
Our tested M5 Max Mac Studio delivered approximately 23 percent higher multicore performance in Geekbench 7 and 33 percent higher GPU rendering performance in Cinebench 2024 than the tested M4 Max Studio.
Before choosing the Studio, consider whether a Mac mini would meet your needs for less. Both desktops require a separate display, keyboard and mouse or trackpad.
The Mac Studio with M5 Max strikes a strong balance between performance and price for professionals who rely on processor- and graphics-intensive apps.
Mac Studio (M5 Ultra, 2026) – Maximum performance and memory
The Mac Studio with M5 Ultra is Apple’s most powerful Mac and its highest-end desktop. The M5 Ultra chip combines two dual-die M5 Max chips connected through UltraFusion, forming a four-die architecture.
Apple introduced the M5 Ultra Mac Studio on August 25, 2026, replacing the M3 Ultra model. The headline change is the M5 Ultra chip, which offers up to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, with a Neural Accelerator in every GPU core.
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio is for people with exceptionally demanding professional workloads. That includes VFX artists rendering complex scenes, filmmakers working with multiple streams of high-resolution video, and AI researchers.
The Mac Studio with M5 Ultra starts at $5,499/£5,499, with a 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 96GB unified memory and 1TB SSD.
Apple M5 Ultra, 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 96GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, $5,499/£5,499. Additional options: M5 Ultra with 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, up to 512GB unified memory, and up to 16TB SSD.
The Mac Studio has four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back, two Thunderbolt 5 ports on the front, an SDXC Card slot, two USB-A ports, 10Gb ethernet, HDMI, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.
Apple says the M5 Ultra delivers up to 30 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance, 40 percent faster graphics and 4.5 times the peak GPU compute for AI compared with M3 Ultra.
The biggest consideration is whether you actually need this much performance. At $5,499/£5,499 before any upgrades, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio costs $3,000/£3,000 more than the entry-level M5 Max Mac Studio.
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio is excessive for most people, but that is the point. It offers the highest CPU core count in any Mac, Apple’s most powerful GPU, up to 512GB of unified memory and an extraordinary 1.2TB/s of memory bandwidth.
Apple 24-inch iMac (M6, 2026) – Best all-in-one
The iMac is Apple’s all-in-one desktop, combining a computer and 24-inch display with a camera, speakers, keyboard and mouse. Its slim enclosure and seven color options make it an attractive choice for a home office.
Apple announced the M6 iMac on October 27, 2026, replacing the M4 generation and skipping M5. The main changes are additional CPU and GPU cores, improved AI processing, faster storage and upgraded connectivity.
The iMac suits families, students, home workers and small businesses that want a complete desktop setup with minimal clutter.
The two-port M6 iMac starts at $1,499/£1,499, while the four-port version starts at $1,699/£1,699. Both include 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD.
Two-port iMac: M6 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB memory and a 256GB SSD. Four-port iMac: M6 with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, 16GB memory and a 256GB SSD.
Both versions retain the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, measuring 23.5 inches diagonally. It has a resolution of 4,480 × 2,520, 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, support for a billion colors and True Tone.
The entry-level iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports; the higher model has four. Both include a headphone jack. Wireless connectivity improves to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Apple claims up to 1.5 times faster performance in productivity tasks such as Excel, twice the graphics performance in selected workloads, and five times faster local AI prompt processing than M4.
The base 256GB SSD is restrictive if you keep large photo libraries, videos or games locally. Memory cannot be upgraded later, so choose enough for your likely longer-term needs.
It’s a straightforward way to buy a complete Mac desktop with a sharp display, camera, good speakers and matching accessories.
Which Mac is best for what you do?
In the table below you can find the best Mac for every use case we can think of. Find the Mac that is best for you and meets your needs below.
| Who | Recommended Mac | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most people | 13-inch MacBook Air (M5) | The best balance of performance, portability, battery life and price for everyday work. |
| Small budget | MacBook Neo | Apple’s cheapest laptop and plenty powerful enough for web browsing, email, streaming and basic productivity. |
| Students | MacBook Neo | Affordable, portable and capable enough for schoolwork, research, video calls and everyday apps. |
| Commuters | 13-inch MacBook Air (M5) | Thin and light with strong performance and long battery life. |
| Big screen/everyday use | 15-inch MacBook Air (M5) | A larger display without the weight or expense of a 16-inch MacBook Pro. |
| Big screen/pro use | 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, non-touch) | Large XDR display, professional performance and a lower price than the OLED touchscreen version. |
| Creative users who want OLED and touch | 14-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display (M5 Pro or M5 Max) | Combines an OLED touchscreen with professional performance in a lighter, portable design. |
| Creative users who want a large OLED touchscreen | 16-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display (M5 Pro or M5 Max) | More screen space for editing timelines, photographs and design work, with touch controls and a lighter chassis than the non-touch model. |
| Home worker | 15-inch MacBook Air (M5) | Plenty of screen space, excellent battery life and enough performance for office and productivity work. |
| Family computer | 24-inch iMac (M6) | Simple all-in-one setup that’s well suited to a shared home computer. |
| Receptionist | 24-inch iMac (M6) | Compact, tidy all-in-one design with very little setup required. |
| Value seeker | Mac mini (M6) | Strong everyday and creative performance in Apple’s smallest desktop. |
| Developer (desktop) | Mac mini (M5 Pro) | More CPU and GPU power than the standard mini, with active cooling for sustained workloads. |
| Developer (laptop) | 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, non-touch) | Multicore performance, ample memory options and portability. |
| Photographers and designers | 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, non-touch) | Excellent XDR display combined with CPU and GPU performance for creative applications. |
| Video editor (laptop) | 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro or M5 Max) | Powerful media engines and sustained performance while remaining reasonably portable. |
| Video editor (desktop) | Mac Studio (M5 Max) | Powerful GPU and media capabilities make it ideal for demanding 4K/8K production workflows. |
| Creative professionals (desktop) | Mac Studio (M5 Max) | Workstation-class CPU and GPU performance for video, audio, photography, development and 3D work. |
| Music production | Mac Studio (M5 Max) | Quiet operation, sustained CPU performance, lots of memory and extensive connectivity. |
| 3D rendering | Mac Studio (M5 Max or M5 Ultra) | The most GPU performance and memory capacity. |
| Large AI models | Mac Studio (M5 Ultra) | Up to 512GB of unified memory plus Apple’s highest-end CPU and GPU options. |
FAQ
1. What’s best, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
We explore this question in detail in our MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro comparison. The MacBook Air is the best choice for most people, offering enough performance for everyday work, studying and many creative tasks. The MacBook Pro is worth considering if you need sustained performance for demanding workloads, more ports or a more advanced display.
The entry-level MacBook Air costs $1,299/£1,299, although you can often spend less by shopping around. If you want more screen space without paying for professional-level performance, the 15-inch MacBook Air is considerably cheaper than a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Within the MacBook Pro range, the standard 14-inch M6 model provides a middle ground between the Air and the more expensive M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations. Its fan helps maintain performance during longer processing tasks, while its Liquid Retina XDR display, HDMI port and SDXC card slot add flexibility.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max models suit more demanding professional workloads, offering more CPU and GPU cores, higher memory capacities and Thunderbolt 5. M5 Pro is a strong option for software development, photography and video editing. Consider M5 Max if your work benefits from its additional graphics power, media engines or higher memory ceiling.
You can also choose a MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR touchscreen. Available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, these models add an OLED display, touch controls alongside the keyboard and trackpad, Dynamic Island, and a thinner, lighter design. Starting at $2,899/£2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399/£3,399 for the 16-inch, they cost $400/£400 more than equivalent non-touch M5 Pro models.
Choosing between a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro comes down to workspace, portability, battery life and price. For external monitors, current M5 Pro models support up to three displays and M5 Max models support up to four.
For a tighter budget, the MacBook Neo lowers the starting price of a Mac laptop to $699/£699. It’s worth comparing its compromises with a discounted previous-generation MacBook Air before deciding.
2. Should I upgrade from my Intel Mac?
Yes. It’s time! We are now more than six years into Apple’s transition from Intel processors to its own silicon that includes CPU, GPU, and unified memory. The transition began with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020. Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apple’s own chips rather than Intel processors.
If you’ve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one powered by Apple’s silicon what are you waiting for? If you are concerned that a must-have app doesn’t run on an M-series Mac, consider finding a new app because the performance gains are tremendous.
Another good reason to replace an Intel Mac is that Apple’s support for these models is winding down. macOS Golden Gate, released in September 2026, is the first major version of macOS to support no Intel Macs. Intel Macs compatible with older versions of macOS may continue receiving security updates for a limited period, but they are now outside Apple’s current feature-release cycle.
3. Where can I get the best price for a new Mac?
Apple rarely offers direct price cuts on new hardware, but resellers frequently do. Getting the best price on a new Mac requires knowing where to look and when to buy.
Top U.S. Retailers: Amazon often has the lowest prices, especially during events like Prime Day. Best Buy is a reliable source for discounts and trade-in offers. B&H Photo is a well-regarded authorized reseller. Walmart is known for exclusive deals on older models.
Top U.K. Retailers: Amazon UK is a primary source for discounts. KRCS is an Apple Premium Reseller that frequently offers good deals. John Lewis & Currys are reliable high-street retailers.
If you’re looking for a great offer, visit our Best Apple Deals page which is regularly updated.
4. What specs do I really need for my Mac?
Chip: The specs you need depend on what you plan to do with your Mac. For web browsing, email, office apps and light photo editing, a standard M-series chip is more than sufficient. The M6 is available in the Mac mini, iMac and standard 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the MacBook Air uses M5. The budget MacBook Neo uses an A18 Pro chip.
GPU: One of the biggest differences between Apple’s chips is GPU performance. Standard M-series chips are easily sufficient for everyday graphics, casual gaming and light creative work. Pro chips add considerably more GPU power for video editing, graphics work, 3D applications and gaming.
RAM: Apple calls RAM Unified Memory. The MacBook Neo is limited to 8GB, which is probably the biggest drawback of that machine. Most Macs start with at least 16GB, which is plenty for everyday use, although we recommend choosing more if your budget allows because the memory cannot be upgraded later.
Storage: Even with iCloud and external drives available, it can seem like you can never have enough storage inside your Mac. 256GB may be sufficient for basic web and office use, but it can fill up quickly. We recommend 512GB for most people who want to keep a Mac for several years.
Display: Consider screen quality and workspace alongside processing power. The MacBook Air’s display is suitable for everyday work and many creative tasks, while MacBook Pro models add XDR brightness and ProMotion refresh rates.
5. When were the Macs last updated?
In March 2026, Apple introduced the M5 MacBook Air, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max, and the new MacBook Neo. All went on sale on March 11.
On August 25, 2026, Apple announced the Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro, and the Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra. Both ranges went on sale on September 22.
On October 27, 2026, Apple announced the M6 iMac and standard 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro. The following day, it introduced the 14-inch and 16-inch touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR displays and M5 Pro or M5 Max chips.
Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March 2026. The Mac Studio is now its highest-end desktop Mac.
Why you can trust Macworld’s advice: Macworld has been covering everything Apple related since our first issue which arrived alongside the original Mac in 1984. Nobody knows Apple better, except probably Apple, but the difference is that we are completely impartial.
Price increases June 2026: In June 2026, Apple increased prices significantly across several product lines including Macs, iPads, the Apple TV 4K, and HomePod models, citing an unprecedented rise in component costs.
